SECT.  II.

Second Supper is that enjoined by Jesus at Capernaum—­It consists of bread from Heaven—­or of the flesh and blood of Christ—­But these not of a material nature, like the passover-bread, or corporeal part of Jesus—­but wholly of a spiritual—­Those who receive it, are spiritually nourished by it, and may be said to sup with Christ—­This supper supported the Patriarchs—­and must be taken by all Christians—­Various ways in which this supper may be enjoyed.

The second supper recorded in the scriptures, in which bread, and the body, and blood of Christ, are mentioned, is that which was enjoined by Jesus, when he addressed the multitude at Capernaum.  Of this supper, the following account may be given: 

[183] “Labour not, says he to the multitude, for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you.”

[Footnote 183:  John 6. 27.]

A little farther on, in the same chapter, when the Jews required a sign from heaven, (such as when Moses gave their ancestors manna in the wilderness,) in order that they might believe on him, he addressed them thus:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven:  but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he that cometh down from heaven, and giveth light unto the world.”

Then said they unto him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”  And Jesus said unto them, “I am the bread of life.  He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst.”

It appears, that in the course of these and other words that were spoken upon this occasion, the Jews took offence at Jesus Christ, because he said, he was the bread that came down from heaven; for they knew he was the son of Joseph, and they knew both his father and his mother.  Jesus therefore directed to them the following observations: 

“I am the bread of life.  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.  I am the living bread, which came down from heaven.  If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.  And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”  The Jews, therefore, strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?  Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  As the living father hath sent me, and I live by the father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  This is that bread that came down from heaven.  Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead.  He that eateth of this bread, shall live forever.”